$200 AWS Free Credits for Students and Starters

Cloud computing can often feel intimidating because of "surprise bills." AWS has recently overhauled its Free Tier (as of mid-2025) to fix this. Instead of just giving you limited hours (like 750 hours of a server), they now give you money (credits) to spend however you want.

Think of this like a prepaid gift card. When you sign up, AWS gives you a "wallet" with $100. As you use services—like hosting a website or running a database—the cost is deducted from this wallet. You don't pay anything from your actual bank account until these credits run out.

How to Claim the $200 AWS Credits?

This offer is split into two parts: Instant and Earnable.

1. Get the First $100 (Instant):
2. • Go to the AWS Free Tier page and create a new account.
   • You must provide a valid email and a credit/debit card for identity verification (they usually charge a temporary $1 or ₹2 hold, which is refunded).
   • Once your account is verified and active, the $100 credit is automatically applied to your Billing Dashboard.
     
2. Unlock the Next $100 (Earnable):
3. • AWS encourages you to "learn by doing." You can earn an extra $20 for each specific task you complete, up to $100 total.
   • Task Examples:
   • • Launch a virtual server (EC2 instance).
     • Create a simple database (RDS).
     • Set a "Budget Alarm" (so you get an email if you spend too much).
     • Run a line of code using AWS Lambda.
     • Try an AI prompt in Amazon Bedrock.
   • After finishing a task, the extra credits usually appear in your account within a few hours.

Note for Students: While this offer is open to all "Starters" (new accounts), it is perfect for students because it allows you to break things and experiment without fear of being charged real money.